At approximately 20:20 local time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks and military vehicles, penetrated into Bab Al-Zawia, Al-Sheikh, ‘Ein Al-Qarna and Jabal Al-Juneidi neighborhoods in Hebron. This incursion came after heavy shelling of Al-Sheikh, Al-Zahed, Abu Sneineh, Al-Takrouri, Wadi Al-Heria and Bab Al-Zawia neighborhoods, which lasted for approximately 6 hours.

The incursion was carried out under the cover of fire that included artillery shells and heavy, medium and light caliber bullets at the targeted neighborhoods. Five Palestinian civilians were wounded:1) Mahmoud Mazen Mahmoud Qa’qour, 19, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis;2) Kan’an, Saleh ‘Oudeh, 24, wounded by shrapnel in the neck;3) Hamada Shehdeh Jaber, 62, wounded by shrapnel in the chest;4) Sarah Hamad Khalil Fawalja, 3, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand; and5) Bahia Rashid Skafi, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg. Additionally, a number of houses were damaged and a civilian car was destroyed.

At approximately 03:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers fired at a civilian car of Al-Joneina (Martyr Abu Yousef Al-Najjar) Hospital in Rafah, while it was on its way to bring a physician to treat Palestinians injured during an Israeli incursion into Rafah.

No casualties were reported.

According to PCHR’s investigations and a testimony by an occupant, Ahmed Jamil Mahmoud Abu Mahadi, 36, from Rafah, an administrative employee at the hospital, Mahadi was accompanying the driver, Zakaria Abu Hashish, on their way to bring a physician who lives in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah. When the car arrived at a Palestinian police station in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in Tal Zorob area on the border with Egypt, fired at it without provocation from a distance of approximately 300m.

The driver was able to seek shelter behind a house, while shooting continued for one minute. Bullets were seen hitting the ground. Several minutes later, the driver continued his trip and brought the physician to the hospital.

At the same place, another civilian car was also fired at by Israeli occupation soldiers, but no casualties were reported. At approximately 11:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at a military roadblock at the eastern entrance to Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm, fired at a number of young Palestinian men who were approximately 500m away, without any clashes having been reported in the area. Two young men were wounded as follows:1) Anwar Mohammed ‘Oleyan, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the shoulder; and2) Hani Mohammed ‘Abdullah, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. At approximately 14:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the northern entrance to Al-Bireh, fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were peacefully marching. Three civilians were wounded as follows:1) Ahmed Mahmoud Sarab, 21, from Ramallah, wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen;2) Ramzi Khaled Ramadan, 27, from Ramallah, wounded by shrapnel in the right leg; and3) Mahmoud Mohammed Mustafa, 24, from Bourqin village near Salfit, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot. At approximately 18:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in the vicinity of Qalandya Airport, north of Jerusalem, fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating on Ramallah-Jerusalem road. Three demonstrators were wounded as follows:1) ‘Emad Mahmoud Hassan El-Sheikh, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the right side, penetrating the urinary bladder and settling in the right leg;2) Hamada Shehdeh, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg; and3) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahim, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder. At approximately 23:00 local time, a number of Palestinian children threw stones at Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned atop of a Palestinian house in Beit ‘Our village near Ramallah.

Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs, one of which fell inside a house in the village, injuring ‘Aa’esha Saleh ‘Ali Salameh, 50, in the head, and burning the face, hair and hands of her granddaughter, Saja ‘Emad Dheifallah, 3.

On Thursday morning, the Israeli occupation forces started withdrawing from the areas that were reoccupied. At approximately 11:00 local time, and after intensive shelling of Palestinian houses in the south of Doura and Kharsa and Deir Samet villages, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks, penetrated into Kharsa village, under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority. They thrust 500m into the village. The Palestinian National Security Forces and gunmen confronted the invading forces.

Riad Naji Mahmoud Abu Zeina, 29, from Hebron, a first lieutenant of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, was killed by a heavy caliber bullet that entered the back and exited through the abdomen. In addition, five members of the Palestinian National Security Forces and a member of the civil defense were injured as follows:1) Yousef Ahmed ‘Abdel-Jawad El-Halayqa, 31, injured by two live bullets in the left hand and leg;2) ‘Eissa Mahmoud ‘Oleyan El-‘Allami, 20, injured by two live bullets in the left knee and the right foot;3) Haitham Mohammed ‘Oleyan, 22, injured by a live bullet in the left leg;4) Ahmed Rateb Mughannam, 17, injured by shrapnel in the limbs;5) Khaled Sa’id Makharza, 28, injured by several live bullets and was kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces; and6) Ahmed Mustafa Abu El-Kheir, 21, injured by shrapnel in the hands. Furthermore, two Palestinian civilians were injured as follows:1) Ma’moun Mohammed ‘Omar, 24, injured by a live bullet in the right hand; and2) Salah ‘Abdel-Qader ‘Omar, 29, injured by shrapnel in the right thigh. At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in “Kfar Darom” settlement in the middle of the Gaza Strip, thrust 500m into areas in Deir El-Balah, northwest of the settlement. PCHR’s field officer in the middle area of the Gaza Strip reported that a bulldozer of the Israeli occupation forces demolished half of a 380-square-meter, two-story house, in which 9 people live, owned by Khaled ‘Omar El-Tawash.

The house cracked and its residents could no longer live in it. It is worth mentioning that the family had evacuated the house at night for three month due to the dangerous security situation. Approximately one hour later, and after Palestinian gunmen confronted the invading forces, the Israeli occupation forces shelled Palestinian houses, severely damaging the following:1) A 250-square-meter, two-story house, in which 9 people live, owned by ‘Abdel-Rahman Bashir;2) A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 12 people live, owned by ‘Abdel-Rabbu Nasser Eqtifan; and3) A 400-square-meter, one-story house, in which 12 people live, owned by Ahmed Ismail Bashir.

At approximately 11:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces opened fire with heavy and light machine guns, shooting indiscriminately at Palestinian houses in Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm. Approximately half an hour later, a combat helicopter opened fire with heavy machine guns on the same area.

A Palestinian civilian, Daoud Saleh ‘Abdel-Nabi Fahmawi, 32, was killed by a live bullet in the chest. PCHR was informed that Fahmawi was a street sweeper and was on duty when he was shot dead. Furthermore, three Palestinian civilians were wounded:1) ‘Adnan Nasser Zendiq, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;2) Sajed Saleh Abu Harb, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and3) Mahmoud Khaled Abu El-Heija, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot. At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in “Psagot” settlement, east of Al-Bireh, opened fired with heavy machine guns on Palestinian houses in Jabal Al-Tawil and Sateh Marhaba neighborhoods and the Hashimite School, causing severe damage.

At approximately 08:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks, moved 500m into the northern area of Al-Qarara, north of Khan Yunis, combing the area for one hour. At approximately 16:00 local time, three tanks and a bulldozer of the Israeli occupation forces again moved into the same area and opened fire from heavy and medium machine guns on Palestinian houses. A 180-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which eight people live, owned by Suleiman Salim Abu Farraj, was severely damaged.

The same house had been raided during the first incursion, and Israeli occupation soldiers mounted its roof after having searched it and terrified its residents. At approximately 23:30 local time, for the third time that day, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with three tanks and a bulldozer, moved into the same area, demolished a house and razed areas of agricultural land as follows:1) They demolished a tin-roofed house owned by Salema Salem Abu Marzouq, which she had built approximately 50m away from her house that had been demolished by the Israeli occupation forces in October 2000.2) They razed a 7-donum-area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms, owned by Ayman ‘Abdel-Hadi El-Qedra and ‘Essam Khaled El-Qedra, and destroyed an irrigation network.3) They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with onions, owned by ‘Abdel-Latif ‘Abed-Rabbu El-Semeiri, and destroyed an irrigation network.4) They uprooted 10 palm trees from a tract of land owned by Sa’id Khalil Abu Salim. At approximately 14:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks and military vehicles, penetrated into Wadi Al-Heria and Um Al-Dalia areas south of Hebron. The incursion was accompanied by firing artillery shells and heavy caliber bullets at the two areas.

It came after one hour of heavy shelling of Palestinian residential areas at the center of Hebron that lasted for approximately 3 hours, during which Mousa Safi Qudeihat, 50, a physician from Kharas village near Hebron, was killed by a heavy caliber bullet that entered the abdomen and exited the back. Qudeihat was crossing a street on his way to the offices of the Ministry of Health when he was shot dead by Israeli occupation soldiers.

Additionally, 17 Palestinians, including 16 civilians, were wounded.

One of the wounded, a 10-year-old child, Bilal Ismail El-‘Amassi, was seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest. The child was going shopping with his family, in preparation for the new school year, when he was fired at by Israeli occupation soldiers positioned atop of a Palestinian house in Jabal Al-Rahma area. The other wounded were:1) Mahmoud Farid ‘Oleyan, 6, wounded by shrapnel in the head;2) Ma’moun Mohammed ‘Amr, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis;3) Ra’ed Shureitah Abu ‘Eyadeh, 23, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded by shrapnel in the face;4) Anwar Mohammed El-Natsheh, 32, wounded by shrapnel in the neck;5) Muna Mohamemd El-Rajoub, 25, wounded by shrapnel in the left arm;6) Muhsen Lutfi Fasfous, 80, wounded by shrapnel in the pelvis;7) Saleh Jom’a Abu Sulaimeh, 49, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg;8) Mohammed Najati Sultan, 41, wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the left shoulder;9) ‘Abdel-Rahim Salman El-Haddad, 35, wounded by shrapnel in the left foot;10) Tayseer ‘Abdel-Rahim Jaradat, 22, wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the left hand;11) Ibrahim Mohammed El-‘Eideh, 18, wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the left hand;12) Bashar ‘Abdullah El-Hashlamoun, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand;13) Nidal El-‘Eissa, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen and the face;14) Bassam ‘Abdel-Muhsen Bader, 48, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;15) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Muhsen Bader, 50, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and16) Leila Mohammed Abu Sneineh, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the head. Additionally, a number of houses and shops were severely damaged, and two civilian cars were destroyed. At approximately 22:15 local time, a tank of the Israeli occupation forces moved from a military site in the vicinity of “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, 300m towards a site of the Palestinian Presidential Guard (Force 17), located approximately 700m north of the aforementioned settlement.

The tank fired an artillery shell and live bullets, killing a member of the site, Sami Samir Baroud, 23, from Nusseirat refugee camp, with a live bullet in the neck.

1) Additionally, ‘Essam Anwar Abu ‘Amsheh, 19, from Beit Hanoun, was injured by shrapnel throughout the body, and 2) Shadi Abu Jame’, 28, from Bani Suheila village in Khan Yunis, was injured by a live bullet in the left thigh. Less than one hour later, for the fifth time in less than one week, the Israeli occupation forces penetrated into Rafah. At approximately 23:00 local time, with heavy shelling, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with 8 heavy military vehicles, moved into Block “J” in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the border with Egypt.

During this incursion, which lasted until 09:00 local time on the following day, nine Palestinians, including six civilians, were wounded.

One of the wounded, Khaled Mustafa ‘Awaja, 30, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, received two live bullets in the head. Israeli occupation soldiers fired at a civilian car that evacuated him to hospital. The driver, Sami Salman Sha’at, 42, was wounded by shrapnel in the left elbow, and three occupants of the car were wounded as follows:1) ‘Ali ‘Abdel-Karim Sha’at, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the right elbow;2) Huassam El-Din Salem Barhoum, 23, wounded by shrapnel in the back and the right elbow; and3) Ra’fat Mohammed Sha’ban, 23, wounded by shrapnel in the head. The other wounded were:1) Mezyed Mohammed Sheikh El-‘Eid, 34, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen;2) Fawzi Mohammed El-Najjar, 54, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder; and3) Eyad Falah Ghanem, 29, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand. They were all evacuated to Al-Joenina Hospital in Rafah, except for Khaled ‘Aawaja who was evacuated to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, and from there he was transferred to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City, for he was in critical condition. On Sunday midnight, September 2, 2001, he was pronounced dead. Furthermore, during the incursion, the Israeli occupation forces demolished seven houses (with all of the furniture inside) and severely damaged one by heavy shelling. People were extremely terrified and were forced to leave their houses.

At approximately 15:00 local time, a number of Palestinian civilians demonstrated approximately 150m north of a military roadblock of the Israeli occupation forces near Qalandya Airport. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers who responded with fire, wounding:1) ‘Abdullah Rushdi Mohammed, 17, from Qalandya refugee camp, with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and2) Majdi Fawzi Ahmed, 16, from Seilat Al-Zahaher village near Jenin, with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head. At approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in a military site in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian children who assembled more than 150m away.

A 14-year-old child, Saleh Sa’id El-‘Ojeili, from Khan Yunis, was wounded by two live bullets in the feet.

At approximately 14:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at the center of Hebron and at bypass road (35) fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at some Palestinian neighborhoods in the city, including Abu Sneineh, Qubbat Janeb, Bab Al-Zawia, Al-Sheikh, Wadi Al-Tuffah, ‘Ein ‘Arab, Qarn Al-Thawr, ‘Ein Kheir El-Din and ‘Ein Sarah neighborhoods.

The shelling lasted for approximately 7 hours, during which ‘Abbouda Kamel ‘Atteya Dababsa, 35, from Tarqoumia village near Hebron, a first lieutenant of the Palestinian Presidents’ Guard (Force 17), was killed by a medium caliber bullet in the head.

Dababsa was traveling with some of his colleagues in a civilian Mitsubishi. He was sitting in the back seat. When the car stopped at Sarah Street, approximately 200m inside areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority, Israeli occupation soldiers fired at it. Dababsa was instantly killed by a medium caliber bullet in the head. Furthermore, 19 Palestinian civilians were injured as follows:1) Yazan Dhiab El-Haimouni, 80, injured by shrapnel in the head;2) Dr. Akram Nasser El-Din, 55, injured by shrapnel in the chest;3) Hatem ‘Abdel-Fattah Markhia, 35, seriously injured by shrapnel in the neck;4) ‘Emad ‘Ezzat Amrish, 31, injured by shrapnel in the right hand;5) ‘Aaida ‘Abbas El-Joulani, 20, injured by shrapnel in the neck;6) Murad Ziad Ayoub El-Sha’rawi, 21, injured by shrapnel in the left hand;7) Nidal Humeid El-Ja’bari, 28, injured by shrapnel in the right thigh;8) Ya’qoub Salah ‘Aabdin, 15, injured by shrapnel in the right hand;9) Sameh Ishaq El-Sharbati, 12, injured by shrapnel in the right side;10) Mohammed Mahmoud Jamil Nairoukh, 7, injured by shrapnel in the head;11) Mohammed Kahder El-Natsheh, 7, injured by shrapnel in the head and the right hand;12) Aayat Tawfiq Skafi, 15, injured by shrapnel throughout the body;13) Sa’d Badawi Barakat, 16, injured by shrapnel throughout the body;14) Wajih Shukri Abu Rumeila, 75, injured by shrapnel throughout the body;15) Yasser ‘Abdel-Nabi El-Salaymeh, 39, injured by shrapnel in the shoulder;16) Ya’qoub Yousef Daghsous, 60, injured by shrapnel in the right knee;17) Amjad ‘Abdel-Hamid El-Je’beh, 19, injured by a live bullet in the right side;18) Eftikhar Younis El-Tamimi, 32, injured by a live bullet in the left arm; and19) Khawla Subhi Abu Sneineh, 31, injured by shrapnel in the back.

Early in the morning, the Israeli occupation forces penetrated into areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority in Rafah. At approximately 01:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks and military vehicles, coming from Sofa Crossing east of Rafah, penetrated into the northeast of Rafah. They moved 3km to the west up to Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), near the European Hospital.

Then, they moved 1km to the north on Salah El-Din Street, reaching the suburbs of Khan Yunis. The Palestinian National Security Forces and gunmen confronted the invading forces. Exchanges of fire broke out until 04:30 local time, during which a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces Mohammed Salameh Jumei’an El-Hamran, 24, from Rafah was killed by an artillery shell.

In addition, Hassan ‘Ali El-‘Omour, 25, was seriously injured by a live bullet in the chest. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City. Furthermore, bulldozers of the Israeli occupation forces demolished a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces near Sofa Crossing. After they seized control of Salah El-Din Street, Israeli occupation forces took position at a junction, leading to “Morag” settlement in the west and Sofa Crossing in the east. It is worth mentioning that Salah El-Din Street is the sole outlet between Rafah and the rest of the Gaza Strip after Israeli occupation forces had closed the western road near “Morag” settlement. PCHR fears that controlling the street will pave the way for Israeli occupation forces to control the area and establish roadblocks, isolating Rafah, similar to the situation between Khan Yunis and Deir El-Balah. According to PCHR’s investigations, Israeli tanks were positioned on five sites on both sides of Salah El-Din Street, surrounded by sand barriers. At approximately 10:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired at Palestinian a civilian car that tried to travel on the street. The Israeli occupation forces also destroyed branch roads that Palestinians use to travel to and from Rafah. In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces reinforced their presence at the entrance to Rafah. Eight armored vehicles were positioned near Tal Zo’rob, southwest of the city, and eight other ones were positioned opposite to Al-Sha’er, Al-Brazil and Al-Salam neighborhoods, adjacent to the border with Egypt. At approximately 20:00 local time, eight armored vehicles of the Israeli occupation forces penetrated 200m into Al-Sha’er neighborhood in Rafah. They demolished a number of Palestinian houses, while firing artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets.

The houses were demolished over their furniture after their residents left them.

A Palestinian Civilian Killed by Jewish Settlers On Wednesday, August 29, 2001, Jewish settlers fired at a Palestinian civilian car, in which three Palestinian civilians were traveling. One was killed and the other two were wounded. at approximately 06:10 local time, the Palestinian civilian car was traveling on a bypass road between “Ma’ale Adomim” settlement, east of Jerusalem, and “Almon” settlement, northeast of the city.

The car was driven by Haidar Taqi Jaddou’ El-Khatib, 28, from Hazma village, north of Jerusalem. His brother, Khader, 22, and his father, Taqi Jaddou’, 50, were traveling with him. While they were traveling on the aforementioned bypass road, settlers who were traveling near a junction leading to “Almon” settlement fired at them.

The driver was killed by several live bullets in the face and the neck. His father was injured by shrapnel in the left hand and ear, the chest and the back, and his brother was injured by shrapnel in the right leg.

At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in a military site near Salah El-Din Gate on the border with Egypt south of Rafah, opened fire on Palestinian houses in Block “O” in Rafah refugee camp.

Tamer Riadh ‘Oudeh Zo’rob, 18, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head. According to PCHR’s investigations, Zo’rob was wounded when he was in Block “O,” approximately 600m north of the aforementioned military site and had not participated in any activity against Israeli occupation forces. He was evacuated to Al-Joneina Hospital in Rafah and from there he was transferred to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City, as he was in critical condition.

At 22:00 local time, he was pronounced dead from his wound. Late at night, an undercover unit of the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian young men from one family in Far’oun village near Tulkarm, who were guarding a cow farm south of the village.

One was killed, another one was wounded and a third one was wounded when he tried to offer help to his colleague. According to investigations carried out by the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), firing at these young men was willful and they were all unarmed civilians.

According to eyewitnesses, at approximately 23:30 local time, five young men from Hazahza family, from Far’oun village, were sitting near a cow farm, owned by their family, approximately 100m away from houses in the village. Then, an undercover unit of the Israeli occupation forces raided the area and fired at them from a distance of 15m only.

‘Emad Salim Hazahza, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the back, and Rami Salem Ahmed Hazahza, 21, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg.

Israeli soldiers arrested the other young men and called for an Israeli ambulance that apparently evacuated ‘Emad to an Israeli hospital. Later, he was pronounced dead and his body was handed over to Palestinians.

His body was brought to Tulkarm Hospital on Wednesday, August 29, 2001, at approximately 02:30 local time. According to medical sources at the hospital, there were bruises on the left side of the chest and a live bullet that entered the left side of the back. X-rays showed live bullets and shrapnel in the chest and the abdomen. Later, an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, accompanied by members of the family, came to the area, but Israeli occupation soldiers fired at it, wounding Hani Salem Hazahza, 24, with a live bullet in the abdomen.

No casualties were reported. At approximately 21:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces again shelled the aforementioned areas. A number of houses were severely damaged and 3 Palestinian civilians were injured as follows:1) Akram Taleb El-Kababji, 68, injured by shrapnel in the neck and the right leg;2) ‘Ezziddin Jamal El-Juneidi, 6, injured by shrapnel in the back; and3) ‘Ammar Sa’id Shahin, 29, injured by shrapnel in the left leg. ‘Aalia Hospital was also hit. According to eyewitnesses, heavy and medium caliber bullets penetrated the windows of the children’s and surgery departments, terrifying the staff of the hospital and patients. At approximately 19:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces , positioned in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire on Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp.

Ibrahim ‘Ali El-A’raj, 31, was injured by a live bullet in the left foot, and a number of houses were damaged.

Early in the morning, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks, penetrated into Beit Jala, under full control of the Palestinian National Authority, and thrust up to 1,000m into the city.

A Palestinian policeman, Mohammed Marzouq Sammour, 26, from Khan Yunis, was killed by a live bullet in the chest, while confronting the invading forces. A number of Palestinian civilians were also injured, including Ahmed Ishaq, 18, from Al-Duheisha refugee camp, whose left hand was cut. He was also injured by shrapnel in the face and the chest. At approximately 07:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces penetrated into Abu Nejem village, south of Bethlehem, and demolished the fence of Abu Nejem school. At approximately 10:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces penetrated into the north and south of ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority. Israeli occupation forces thrust 100m into the refugee camp and imposed curfew on areas that were reoccupied. They seized a Palestinian house and transformed its roof into a military point after they had detained the family in one room.

Early in the morning, Ibrahim Mohammed Sharaf, 18, from Tal Al-Za’tar neighborhood in Jabalya, was killed by an artillery shell fired by Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at the border east of Beit Lahia.

It has not been clear why Sharaf was in this area. However, initial investigations proved excessive use of force by the Israeli occupation forces, who fired an artillery shell at the victim without any prior warning and without having resorted to any less lethal means, especially as the victim was not armed. Sharaf was not known to be affiliated with any political party. It is likely that he was with some companions trying to sneak into Israeli territories, searching for work in the wake of the economic crisis in the Gaza Strip.

According to information gathered by PCHR, Sharaf had left his house with two companions on Sunday, August 26, 2001, at approximately 22:00 local time. His father mentioned that he had not come back at that night. On the following day, the father was informed with the death of son.

He went to Shifa’ Hospital to identify his son’s body, which was divided by an artillery shell into two parts.

According to PCHR’s investigations, the three companions went to the border area, east of Beit Lahia, not far away from their houses. When they were approximately 200m away from the border, Israeli occupation soldiers fired an artillery shell at them, but none of them was injured and they escaped. Then, the Israeli soldiers fired another artillery shell that directly hit Sharaf, killing him instantly.

Later, the Palestinian side of the Palestinian-Israeli liaison was informed that a corpse of a young man was near the border. On Monday, at approximately 11:00 local time, after the Israeli occupation forces allowed a Palestinian ambulance to search on the area, the victim’s body was found.

At approximately 18:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border, east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses, more than 500m away. A number of houses were damaged:

1) Bullets made holes in walls of A 170-square-meter, one-story house, in which 13 people live, owned by As’ad Fahmi Abu Salah; and2) Bullets made holes in walls of A 180-square-meter, one-story house, in which 17 people live, owned by Sa’id Fahmi Abu Salah.

At approximately 19:00 local time, an Israeli tank emerged from of “Psagot” settlement, east of Al-Bireh, and moved towards a roadblock of the Palestinian National Security Forces, at the eastern entrance to Al-Bireh. It fired four artillery shells at the roadblock, completely destroying it.

In the meanwhile, it fired heavy caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in the area. Four Palestinian civilians were injured:

1) Mohammed Mahmoud Jalayta, 27, injured by shrapnel in the left ear;2) Nuha ‘Eissa Abu Qubeita, 25, injured by shrapnel in the head and the right shoulder;3) Fadi Mousa Qar’an, 19, injured by shrapnel in the right hand and burns in the left thigh; and4) Muhannad ‘Ali ‘Aabed, 18, injured by shrapnel in the abdomen.

Additionally, five houses and the Palestinian House of Poetry were damaged.

At approximately 20:30 local time, two Israeli combat helicopters fired eight rockets at the building of riot control units of Palestinian police in Tulkarm. Seven rockets hit the building, while the eighth fell onto a tract of agricultural land.

Arkan Salim Harb, 26, from Deir El-Balah refugee camp, was seriously injured by a heavy caliber bullet in the head. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City. According to PCHR’s investigations, Harb was in the east of Deir El-Balah refugee camp, more than 2km away from the Israeli occupation forces, when he was injured.

PCHR’s field officer in Deir El-Balah reported that an Israeli tank penetrated into areas west of “Kfar Darom” settlement and fired live bullets and two artillery shells at Palestinian houses in Deir El-Balah.

A number of houses were severely damaged, such as a 180-square-meter, two-story house, in which 9 people live, owned by Samir Jaber Nemer Bashir, whose walls, windows and water tanks were holed by bullets, but no casualties were reported.

Last night, Monday, Israeli occupation forces penetrated into areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority south of Rafah. In this incursion, which lasted until 03:30 local time on Tuesday, 15 Palestinian houses, in which more than 140 civilians lived, were demolished, and 14 civilians were injured. According to PCHR’s investigation, on Monday, at approximately 23:30 local time, eight Israeli tanks and a bulldozer rolled into Block “O” area, adjacent to the border with Egypt, south of Rafah. They thrust approximately 100m into the area, and moved 300m along the border. In this area, they demolished 15 houses while firing a barrage of medium- and large-caliber bullets, as well as artillery shells. Bloody clashes broke out between the invading forces and Palestinians, both civilians and militants.

These clashes extended to other areas along the border, especially near Salah El-Din Gate and in Al-Brazil and Al-Salam neighborhoods. In these clashes, 14 Palestinian civilians were injured as follows:1) Najah Yousef Abu Shawish, 34, injured by shrapnel in the upper arm;2) Wassila Mahmoud Abu Shawish, 29, seriously injured by shrapnel in the abdomen and the left forearm;3) Mohammed Ahmed El-Hams, 23, injured by shrapnel in the right thigh;4) ‘Abdel-Rahim Ibrahim El-Hams, 18, injured by two live bullets in the right shoulder and foot;5) Daniel Kamel Mansour, seriously injured by a live bullet in the abdomen;6) Hassan ‘Awadh Abu ‘Aathreh, 40, injured by shrapnel in the head;7) ‘Alla’ Khalil ‘Omar, 18, injured by shrapnel in the head;8) ‘Emad Ahmed Abu Hussein, 17, injured by shrapnel in the right shoulder;9) Mohammed Nayef Abu Jazar, 24, injured by shrapnel in the right thigh;10) Jawad ‘Abdullah El-Soufi, 29, injured by shrapnel in the left shoulder;11) Tamer Nasser Ziada, 19, a journalist, injured by shrapnel in the head;12) ‘Emad Ziad Abu Muhsen, 23, injured by shrapnel in the chest;13) Fuad Ahmed Salameh ‘Asfour, 22, seriously injured by a live bullet in the chest; and14) Lutfi Nayef Abu Jazar, 22, injured by a live bullet in the right thigh. They were all evacuated to Al-Joneina Hospital in Rafah. Tension and fear spread out in the city.

Continued Assassinations and Extra-Judicial Killings

On Monday, the Israeli occupation forces assassinated one of the most prominent Palestinian political leaders, Abu Ali Mustafa, Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

This horrible crime was a turning point in the Israeli government’s assassination policy. Previous assassinations targeted those described by the Israeli government as “Intifada activists,” but this time the target was one of the most prominent Palestinian political leaders, and a symbol of the national struggle. PCHR learnt that on Monday morning, at approximately 11:15 local time, Israeli combat helicopters fired two rockets at the office of Secretary General of the PFLP, the second most prominent political party of the Palestinian national movement, and one which opposes the Oslo agreements. The rockets hit the office, an apartment on the third floor of a building behind the office of the Ramallah-Al-Bireh Governorate in Al-Bireh. One rocket penetrated an eastern window of the Abu Ali Mustafa’s office, killing him instantly.

The other rocket penetrated a northern window of the office. The apartment was totally destroyed and five Palestinians, including a woman resident of the building, were injured as follows:1) ‘Aqel Ahmed Mohammed Salah, 32, from Burqa village, director of the office, injured by shrapnel in the neck;2) Raed Rashed Battat, from Al-Zhahereya village near Hebron, an employee at the office, injured by shrapnel in the head and the left hand;3) Ma’n ‘Abdu Nasrallah, 31, from Ramallah, an employee at the office, injured by shrapnel in the left thigh;4) Ahmed Salim Masa’id, 28, from Nablus, an employee at the office, injured by shrapnel in the right ankle; and5) Zahera Hamed ‘Ali El-Sulh, 52, from Al-Bireh, resident of the building, injured by shrapnel in the abdomen. According to Palestinian security sources, the attack was launched by Israeli combat helicopters that were flying over Kubar village, 15km to the north of Al-Bireh. Abu Ali Mustafa is the nom de guerre of Mustafa Ali El-Zabri, 62, from Arrabeh village near Jenin. In a press release, PCHR strongly condemned this criminal act by Israeli occupation forces, which was carried out according to a declared policy of assassination adopted by the Israeli government, in violation of international law and international humanitarian law. PCHR believes that the assassination policy, including this most heinous crime, further proves the aggressive nature of the Israeli government and refutes its claims of wanting peace.

This crime was certainly committed after a deliberate decision taken by the Israeli government, headed by the war criminal Ariel Sharon, to escalate tension in the whole region. In light of continued escalation of Israeli aggression, PCHR reiterated its call for the international community, through its organizations and agencies, to immediately intervene to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the region. PCHR also called upon the international community to provide protection for the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who face the most horribly destructive weapons of the Israeli arsenal, used with the full political support of the US administration.

At approximately 06:40 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in a military site west of “Dogit” settlement, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired without any prior warning at Khalil Mohammed Zayed, 60, from Beit Lahia, seriously wounding him with a live bullet in the chest.

He was evacuated to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City. According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitness testimonies, Zayed, a fisherman, was walking on the beach, opposite to the aforementioned military site, when he was fired at without provocation. At approximately 14:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating at the center of Hebron, near demarcation lines separating between areas under control of the Israeli occupation forces and those under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority. Three Palestinian civilians were wounded:1) Mohammed Ibrahim El-‘Aameri, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;2) Ma’moun Khader Abu Sneineh, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen; and3) Hazem ‘Arafat Zaytoun, 35, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot. In another incident in areas under control of the Israeli occupation forces in Hebron, Israeli occupation soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian civilians, claiming that these civilians violated the curfew that had been imposed for two weeks. Three Palestinian civilians were wounded:1) Samer Rawhi Abu Jom’a, 9, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand;2) Tamer Abu Ahmed, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg; and3) Nahedh ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Rujbi, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg. At approximately 18:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at a military roadblock south of Qalandya Airport on Ramallah-Jerusalem road, fired at two Palestinian journalists who were covering clashes in the area between the Israeli occupation forces and a number of Palestinian civilians. The two were wounded as follows:1) Mahmoud Makhlouf, 25, from Jenin, a journalist of the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa), wounded by four rubber-coated metal bullets in the left leg, thigh and hand; and2) Mohammed Sadiq, from Jerusalem, a photographer of Associated Press, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot.

At approximately 03:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border with Egypt, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Block “O” area in Rafah Refugee camp, severely damaging some of them. Two Palestinian civilians were injured:1) Mohammed ‘Abdel-‘Azziz Hassanein, 19, injured by shrapnel in the left hand; and2) Hisham Kamal Abu Taha, 22, injured by shrapnel in the back. At approximately 04:00 local time, Israeli fighter jets attacked the headquarters of Palestinian police in Salfit, in the West Bank. A bomb hit the building and totally destroyed it, but no casualties were reported. At approximately 05:00 local time, Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets attacked the headquarters of the Palestinian police in Gaza City. Buildings of the civil police were hit by two bombs, one of which destroyed the building of the administrative affairs department while the other partially destroyed offices of riot control units.

A number of nearby buildings were also damaged, including a meeting hall at the Palestine Red Crescent Society and a building of the Al-Azhar University campus. According to Palestinian security sources, each rocket weighed 2,500 pounds, and is stronger than the bombs used against the Palestinian police headquarters in Ramallah on August 10, 2001, and in Nablus on May 18, 2001. At the same time, Israeli fighter jets shelled an outpost of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service at the entrance to Deir El-Balah in the middle of the Gaza Strip.

PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the two-story outpost was totally destroyed, and three Palestinian security men were slightly injured. They received medical care at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir El-Balah.

At approximately 00:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced by tanks and military vehicles, intruded into two areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority in Rafah. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the incursion, which lasted until 02:30 local time, was from two directions. The first thrust came from the southeast (Rafah Border Crossing) and headed north towards Salah El-Din Street. Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with eight tanks and two bulldozers, thrust approximately 2km into areas under the jurisdiction of the PNA.

The second was from Morag settlement, north of Rafah. Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with six tanks, crossed Salah El-Din Street and thrust approximately 2km into Al-Fukhari area, northeast of Rafah, under the jurisdiction of the PNA. During the incursion, Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses, stores and civilian facilities, which were partially destroyed. Furthermore, Israeli occupation forces bulldozed the headquarters of the Palestinian National Security Force (NSF) in Rafah and an NSF outpost at a branch of Salah El-Din Street leading to Sofa Crossing, east of Rafah.

A member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, Staff Sergeant ‘Alla’ Salah Abu Bakra, 27, from Rafah, was killed by a live bullet in the head fired by Israeli occupation forces. In addition, two Palestinian civilians were injured.

1) A 12-year-old-child, Yousef Hamdan Mu’ammar, was injured by a live bullet in the buttocks, and 2) Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Arada, 23, was injured by shrapnel in the left shoulder.

PCHR’s field officer in Rafah described the incursion as the widest since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada, and that the Israeli occupation forces reached all the way to the suburbs of Khan Yunis.

At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating on the east of Ya’bad village near Jenin, near a bypass road leading to “Shakid” settlement, north of the village.

A 6-year-old child, Maher Ghassan Qabaha, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head while he was atop his family’s house.

At approximately 04:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned to the west and south of Doura village near Hebron, fired heavy caliber bullets at two roadblocks of the Palestinian Presidential Guard (Force 17), south of Hebron. The two roadblocks were severely damaged. At approximately 17:45 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in “Ramat Yishai” settlement in Tal Rumeida neighborhood in Hebron, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Al-Sheikh, Bab Al-Zawia, Al-Mnara and Wadi Al-Tuffah neighborhoods and Al-‘Adel Street.

As a result of the shelling, which lasted up to 20:00 local time, Ayman Mohammed El-Harbawi, 29, was seriously injured by shrapnel in the back and the limbs.

Moreover, four Palestinian civilian cars were destroyed, and the offices of the Palestinian Chamber of Commerce, Al-Madina Al-Munawara market, Al-Manara market and Ibrahim Abu Dayeh school were severely damaged. At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in “Ramat Yishai” settlement in Tal Rumeida neighborhood“Ramat Yishai” settlement in Tal Rumeida neighborhood, in “Avraham Avino” settlement and in military sites on Johar Mount in Hebron, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Abu Sneineh, Al-Takrouri and Qubbat Janeb neighborhoods.

A number of Palestinian houses and the electricity and telephone networks were severely damged.

In the afternoon, dozens of Palestinian civilians demonstrated east of Gaza City. Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the entrance of a settlement road leading to the Green Line, atop of a Palestinian house south of the road, and near Al-Mentar Outlet, fired at demonstrators, wounding five:1) Muhannad Bassam Salim, 13, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg;2) Mohammed Walid Haneya, 15, from Sheikh Radwan Neighborhood, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;3) Mohammed Khalil Harb, 17, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;4) Akram ‘Eissa Radi, 17, from Al-Shati refugee camp, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg; and5) ‘Awni Sami Sa’id ‘Oleyan, 19, from Al-Daraj neighborhood, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. In addition, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that for the first time, the Israeli occupation forces used a gas which produced orange smoke. Also in the afternoon, a number of Palestinian civilians demonstrated at the northern entrance to Al-Bireh. Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in the vicinity of City Inn Hotel, fired at demonstrators, wounding Ramzi ‘Abdel-Latif Rayan, 20, from Al-Ram village near Jerusalem, with a live bullet that entered the left side and exited the right side.

He was evacuated to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Ramallah, where medical sources stated that the live bullet cut Rayan’s colon and large intestines. Also in the afternoon, Israeli occupation soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating at the entrance to Qalandya refugee camp and near Qalandya Airport on Jerusalem-Ramallah road.

A passing civilian, Younis Ibrahim Mohammed, 46, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh. At approximately 15:00 local time, clashes erupted between dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis. Palestinian demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli occupation forces, who responded with intensive shooting. In these clashes, which lasted up to 17:00 local time, four Palestinian children:1) Suhaib Ismail Barbakh, 9, wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis;2) Zuhdi Maher El-Salmi, 10, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;3) Yousef Subhi Shana’a, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand; and4) Ahmed Mohammed Harazallah, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh. In the meantime, 13-year-old Muti’ Na’im Abu Shaqra, from Khan Yunis, was wounded in the right thigh by a live bullet fired by Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis.

PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the child was wounded when he was playing with other children, where Palestinian families live, approximately 200 away from the aforementioned settlement.

Shortly after midnight, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at “Nahal ‘Ouz” Crossing, east of Gaza City, fired heavy, medium and light caliber bullets at Palestinian houses to the west until 02:00 local time.

Two Palestinian civilians, including a 17-year-old girl who was attending a wedding party approximately 1,000m away, were injured as follows:1) Falastin Hammad Sa’id Abu El-‘Atta, 17, from Al-Sgojaeya neighborhood, injured by a live bullet in the neck; and2) Sha’ban Mohammed Abu Ghanima, 45, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood, injured by a live bullet in the left leg. In her testimony to PCHR, Abu El-‘Atta said: “I was with my family in a wedding party of three young men, more than 1,000m away from a military site of the Israeli occupation forces at Nahal ‘Ouz Crossing. Suddenly, we heard sounds of intensive shooting that caused a mess and the attendants escaped. I escaped with my family to the main road and we had shelter behind a house, while shooting continued. Suddenly, I felt that something hit my neck and fell onto my mother who was beside me. I lost conscious until I found myself at Shifa’ Hospital.” At approximately 06:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Hawara military site and “Brakha” settlement, south of Nablus, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Kufor Qallil village. An artillery shell penetrated a wall of a Palestinian house, owned by Rafe’ ‘Abdel-Latif Mansour, while he and his family were inside, but no casualties were reported. At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in “Ramat Yishai” settlement in Hebron fired artillery shells and heavy caliber bullets at Al-Sheikh neighborhood.

At approximately 01:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, penetrated into a Palestinian area west of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the middle of the Gaza Strip, in the aftermath of an exchange of fire with some Palestinian gunmen, during which four Palestinian gunmen were injured, one of whom was in serious condition.

At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian young men and children who were demonstrating near the western cemetery of Khan Yunis, approximately 200m away from the aforementioned settlement. These demonstrations came after the funeral ceremony of Mahmoud Jasser who was killed by Israeli occupation soldiers on Friday, August 22, 2001.

This time, Israeli occupation soldiers shot dead Mohammed Jaber Maraziq Zo’rob, 20, with a live bullet in the chest, and wounded five others:1) Majdi ‘Abdullah Abu Mousa, 8, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen;2) Mustafa Khalil El-Masri, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;3) ‘Ali Mustafa Farawana, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the chest;4) Mahmoud Mousa El-Majaida, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder; and5) Nasrallah Mohammed Jarghoun, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen.

At approximately 11:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border east of Al-Boreij refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip, shelled an outpost of the Palestinian National Security Service, approximately 200m west of the border.

The outpost was severely damaged and two of the personnel were injured:1) Ra’ed ‘Othman Abu ‘Amra, 25, injured by shrapnel from an artillery shell in the left thigh; and2) Mohammed Ahmed Ghanem, 26, injured by shrapnel from an artillery shell in the head and the left hand. At approximately 19:25 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Al-Sheikh, Bab Al-Zawia, Al-Manara and ‘Ein Kheir El-Din neighborhoods and Al-‘Adel Street in Hebron. Three Palestinian civilians were injured:1) Ayman Mazen Abu ‘Omar, 14, injured by shrapnel from an artillery shell in the jaw;2) Khaldoun Nader Fathi El-‘Oweiwi, 17, injured by shrapnel in the abdomen and the legs; and3) Wa’el Mohammed Helmi El-Sharif, 40, injured by shrapnel in the limbs. Moreover, four Palestinian civilian cars were destroyed, and a number of houses, stores and commercial facilities, including the Palestinian Investment Bank, were severely damaged. Two transformers were also destroyed, cutting off electricity from Al-Manara Street and Al-Zawia Square.

At approximately 21:30 local time, an Israeli tank moved 700m into areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority in Deir El-Balah in the middle of the Gaza Strip. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the tank moved from a military site in the vicinity of “Kfar Darom” settlement into Al-Heker area, south of Deir El-Balah. Dozens of Palestinian gunmen confronted the Israeli occupation forces.

The fire exchange lasted for three hours, during which three Palestinians were injured:1) Ahmed ‘Awadh El-Shureihi, 21, injured by a live bullet in the buttocks;2) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Fattah Kurraz, 28, injured by a live bullet in the lower jaw; and3) Hassan Salem El-Hassanat, 37, injured by a live bullet in the right hand. At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks and military vehicles, penetrated into three neighborhoods under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority in Hebron, and destroyed two houses before they withdrew. The Israeli occupation forces moved from “Ramat Yishai” settlement and adjacent military sites, and penetrated, with the support of two helicopters, into Abu Sneineh, Jabal Al-Rahma and Qubbat Janeb Neighborhood.

The operation was accompanied by intensive shelling of these neighborhoods. PCHR was informed that the Israeli occupation forces thrust 200m into the west of Jabal Al-Rahma neighborhood, 800m into the southeast of Abu Sneineh neighborhood and 400m in the north and east of Jabal Al-Rahma neighborhood. The incursion was accompanied with shelling of the three neighborhoods from the aforementioned settlement and surrounding military sites. On the following day, at approximately 03:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces withdrew after they had clashed with Palestinian security men and armed militants. The incursion resulted a number of Palestinians being injuring, including:1) Samer Mutliq Ibrahim Ghanayem, 22, seriously injured by a medium caliber bullet in the mouth;2) Hamada Muhareb Nemer Abu Shawish, 37, seriously injured by shrapnel from an artillery shell in the back and the legs;3) Mohammed Hamed Abu ‘Eisha, 70, injured by shrapnel in the back; and4) Mohammed Yusri El-Zaru, 40, injured by Shrapnel in the abdomen and the shoulder, and by a live bullet in the left leg. During the incursion, the Israeli occupation forces destroyed three electrical transformers. They also demolished two houses in Abu Sneineh neighborhoods, an old house owned by Yousef ‘Abbas Amro, and an under-construction house, owned by Nihad Yousef El-Takrouri, claiming that Palestinian militants fired at Israeli occupation soldiers and Jewish settlers from this houses. Continued Assassinations and Extra-Judicial Killings

At approximately 10:00 local time, a combat helicopter of the Israeli occupation forces fired a rocket at Colonel El-Massimi’s car, in which he traveled with a bodyguard, near the building of the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments. The rocket hit the front of the car. Colonel El-Massimi and his bodyguard were able to escape from the car before the combat helicopter fired another rocket that fell near the car.

Colonel El-Massimi was seriously injured and his bodyguard, Saber El-Massimi, 30, was injured by shrapnel in the head and the shoulder.

Additionally, a passing civilian, Ghazi Akouba, 45, an employee at the Ministry of Religious Endowments, was injured by shrapnel in the left leg.

At approximately 14:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shelled a Palestinian police station in Al-Qarara, north of Khan Yunis, with three surface-to-surface missiles launched from their military sites inside the Green Line east of Rafah. The police station was severely damaged and seven policemen, all of them from Khan Yunis, were injured as follows:1) Isamil ‘Ali Dahlan, 23, injured by shrapnel in the shoulder;2) Nayef Mousa Abu Mousa, 42, injured by shrapnel in the left thigh and the buttocks;3) Islam Suheil El-Sheikh ‘Ali, 26, injured by shrapnel in the thighs and the hands;4) Yousef Hussein Sweidan, 30, injured by shrapnel in the left hand;5) Sa’d Ahmed Harazallah, 47, injured by shrapnel in the head;6) Nahedh Mohammed El-Najjar, 28, injured by shrapnel in the face; and7) Rami Ziad El-Batta, 28, injured by shrapnel in the leg.Continued Assassinations and Extra-Judicial Killings

Despite increasing international criticism, Israeli occupation forces continued to carry out a policy of liquidating those whom the Israeli government of Ariel Sharon considers “activists of the Intifada.”

On Wednesday evening, Israeli combat helicopters fired a number of rockets at two Palestinian civilian cars south of Gaza City, killing Bilal Yahia El-Ghoul, 19, from Al-Mughraqa area, south of Gaza City. Apparently, three Hamas activists, including the victim’s father, who were traveling in the two cars, were the targets of this operation. They survived.

According PCHR’s investigations, on Wednesday, at approximately 18:00 local time, two Palestinian civilian cars were coming from an olive farm, south of Gaza City, towards the middle area of the Gaza Strip. As soon as the first car, a Subaru in which the victim and an unidentified person were traveling, arrived at Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), an Israeli combat helicopter fired a rocket that directly hit the victim, killing him instantly, while the other person was able to escape.

The other car, which carried the victim’s father, Yahia El-Ghoul, 41, and others, immediately moved back and its occupants got out of and sought shelter behind trees, before the car was destroyed by three rockets.

At approximately 00:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in “Ramat Yishai” settlement in Tal Rumeida, and in military sites in the middle of Hebron, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Bab Al-Zawia and Al-Sheikh neighborhoods and Faisal Street. The shelling lasted up 02:50 local time, during which three Palestinians were injured:1) Bassem Hamad Yasser Abu Sneineh, 22, injured by shrapnel in the thighs and the left hand;2) Hamad Kamel ‘Emad El-Ja’bari, 48, injured by shrapnel in the back, the right shoulder and the limbs; and3) Ismail Harb Toubasi, 40, a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard (Force 17), injured by shrapnel throughout the body. Moreover, five stores were severely damaged and windows of two houses broke. At approximately 18:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian houses near Bitounia cemetery, west of Ramallah, after a fire exchange between members of the Palestinian President’s Guard (Force 17) at the southern entrance to Bitounia and Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned atop a building approximately 200m away. Seven Palestinian civilians were injured as follows:1) Safouh Jom’a Mohammed Ismail, 24, from Ramallah, dumb, seriously injured by a live bullet in the abdomen;2) Mahmoud Rajab Nadi El-Najjar, 23, from Bitounia, seriously injured by a live bullet in the abdomen;3) Ahmed ‘Abdel-Karim ‘Abdullah, 3, from Ramallah, injured by a live bullet in the left foot;4) Salem Yasser ‘Ayad, 11, from Bitounia, injured by shrapnel from live bullets in the face and the chest;5) Hafizha Yasser ‘Ayad, 12, from Bitounia, injured by shrapnel from a live bullet in the back and the left leg;6) Yasser Jamal Harish, 29, from Bitounia, injured by shrapnel from a live bullet in the left eye; and7) Rula Hazem ‘Abdullah Doula, 30, from Bitounia, injured by shrapnel from a live bullet in the right eye. At approximately 22:40 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in military sites in the middle of Hebron and at the southern entrance to the city, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses that had been already shelled in the morning.

Two Palestinian policemen and a child were injured as follows:1) Hussam ‘Ali Abu Rayan, 22, injured by shrapnel in the limbs;2) Fawzi Mohammed Hussein Hureibat, 29, injured by shrapnel in the limbs; and3) Hussein Talal Manasra, 15, injured by shrapnel in the limbs. At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border with Egypt, south of Rafah, shelled Palestinian houses in Block “O” area in Rafah refugee camp and stores at the western side of ‘Omar Ben El-Khattab Street in the city.

PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces fired 15 artillery shells, which hit a house that was under construction owned by Mahmoud El-Sha’er, and a number of stores.

At approximately 19:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned atop a building seized earlier this year in Bitounia, and in “Ofar” military site fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Hawuz neighborhood in Bitounia, west of Ramallah, and a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces at the southern entrance to the town.

Iman Sharif Jamil Qarat, 30, was injured by a live bullet in the right side, when she went to the garden of her house to close a tap. She was evacuated to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Ramallah. In addition, a number of houses were severely damaged. At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Salah El-Din Gate on the border with Egypt, south of Rafah, fired two rockets at Palestinian houses in Block “O” area near the border, in response to attacks by hand grenades. Eight Palestinian civilians were injured as follows:1) Yousef Ibrahim El-Masri, 12, injured by shrapnel in the back;2) Fathi Nabil Ziada, 14, injured by shrapnel in the abdomen;3) Anas Sami Abu To’eima, 17, injured by shrapnel in the abdomen;4) ‘Emad Ibrahim El-Masri, 18, injured by shrapnel in the left shoulder;5) Rasem Yousef Abu Jazar, 18, injured by shrapnel in the chest;6) ‘Abdullah ‘Ali El-Ghouti, 19, injured by shrapnel in the right shoulder;7) Mohammed Tawfiq Jendia, 20, injured by shrapnel in the left arm; and8) Mohammed Mutei’El-Mu’ashar, 23, injured by shrapnel in the face, the jaw and the thighs.

At approximately 22:30 local time, three tanks of the Israeli occupation forces moved from “Netser Hazani” settlement, west of Al-Qarara near Khan Yunis, approximately 100m into areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority.

They fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in the area, but no casualties were reported. At the same time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks, intruded approximately 500m into the east of Jabalya, under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority, while intensively firing. PCHR’s field officer in the northern Gaza Strip reported that the Israeli occupation forces withdrew at approximately 01:30 local time on the following day. At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks and a bulldozer leveled areas of wooded land between “Neve Dekalim” settlement and Al-Nemsawi neighborhood, west of Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli occupation forces thrust approximately 100m into areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority.

Then an exchange of fire took place between these forces and a number of Palestinian militants. On the following day, Tuesday, August 21, 2001, at approximately 02:00, Yasser ‘Abdullah Abu Setta, 25, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck.

According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupation soldiers planned an ambush for Palestinian militants inside the cemetery of Khan Yunis in an area under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority. Abu Setta was evacuated to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.